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Wilkes-Barre students painting for a cause

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Facade improvement grant deadline extended in Wilkes-Barre

<p>A debt of $503.50 was the motive behind a deadly shooting involving a former elected official on Dec. 21, 1897.</p><p>James R. Griner, who served in the 7th regiment of New Jersey during the Civil War and was shot during the three-day battle at Gettysburg, was accused of killing stepdaughter Caroline Shaeffer, 34, inside the Pullman House, a two story hotel that stood at Main and Swetland streets, Duryea.</p><p>&#8220;The tragedy was committed shortly before the noon hour at Griner&#8217;s hotel in Duryea, the Pullman House, and immediately the whole place was excitement, men, women and children congregating about the hotel and looking at the building in which the crime was committed,&#8221; the Wilkes-Barre Record newspaper reported on Dec. 22, 1897.</p><p>Those who lived near the Pullman House told policemen the domestic relations inside the hotel were not of the happiest and there were frequent quarrels.</p><p>Griner, 54, claimed he was the victim of &#8220;misplaced confidence,&#8221; the Record reported.</p><p>Griner was elected in 1894 to the state legislature as a Republican representing the first district of Wilkes-Barre but left politics to purchase the Pullman House after his re-election defeat in 1896.</p><p>A Luzerne County grand jury indicted Griner on first and second degree murder in January 1898. His trial, which was continued several times, began June 22, 1898 at the courthouse located on Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. Judge Stanley Woodward presided over the trial.</p><p>&#8220;Griner looked out of place in the prisoners&#8217; corner. He looked to be in good health and was dressed neatly,&#8221; the Times Leader reported June 21, 1898.</p><p>Assistant District Attorney Martin J. Mulhall opened the case against Griner, telling the all-male jury the motive behind the killing.</p><p>&#8220;He entered his home, had some difficulty with his stepdaughter, and deliberately and wilfully fired two shots at her. He left the room, returned and fired another shot, taking her life. If we prove these facts, gentlemen, we shall expect a speedy conviction at your hands,&#8221; Mulhall told jurors.</p><p>Griner had traveled to Scranton to conduct business with a brewery and when he returned to the Pullman House, he learned Shaeffer was awarded a $203.50 court-ordered judgment against him for unpaid labor. She was a servant at the Pullman House but had not been paid for her services.</p><p>Another judgment, $300, was also filed against Griner by the Scranton brewery.</p><p>When the judgments were hand-delivered by deputy sheriff Robert Williams the morning of Dec. 21, 1897, the Pullman House was closed until Griner paid the debt, reported the Times Leader on June 23, 1898.</p><p>Witnesses who testified on behalf of Griner told jurors he believed his wife and stepdaughter were plotting to take the Pullman House away from him.</p><p>The jury deliberated for more than 30 hours before returning a verdict late Saturday night, June 25, 1898, finding Griner guilty of manslaughter. One juror voted to convict on first-degree murder, the Times Leader reported June 27, 1898.</p><p>Judge Woodward sentenced Griner to 12 years in prison to be served at Eastern Penitentiary in Philadelphia.</p><p>The Wilkes-Barre Record reported July 27, 1898, Griner was escorted by a sheriff deputy to the prison, leaving on the 8:10 Lehigh Valley train en route to Philadelphia.</p><p>After serving eight years in prison, he was released for good behavior in January 1906.</p><p>Griner died Jan. 19, 1918 in Moosic.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>LOOK BACK: HOTELIER KILLS STEPDAUGHTER</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Look Back: Ex-Wilkes-Barre lawmaker convicted in 1897 Duryea murder